THE NORTH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2117, 17 February 1870, Page 2

THE NORTH.

The account given of tho obstruction of a survey party at Ohinemuri indicates a very unfavorable state of things at tho Upper Thames. Two old women, it appears, assume the right of absolutely forbidding the survey of land which is held under Crown grown grant. Alter several unsuccessful attempts to intimidate the surveyors, the viragos make a determined charge upon them with the object of seizing the fern hooks with which the lines are being cut, and the pakehas thinking discretion tho better part of valour, prudently retired into camp. The spectacle of several stalwart men with fern hooks, pursued by two or three Maori hags must have been a sight worth seeing. The most serious part of the matter is the report that Te Kooti is receiving supplies of ammunition from Shortland by way of Ohinemuri. Mr E. Wood, the lessee of the land attempted to be surveyed, has come up to Auckland with Riki Paka, one of the principal landowners, and we believe they intend to wait upon the hon. the Native and Defence Minister to-day. Mr Wood has suffered much inconvenience and loss from this perverse action of Mere Kurn, and two or three other impudent old women who claim the right to obstruct the opening of Ohinemuri. The dying squadron sailed from Auckland on the 10th. On the 7th, Admiral Hornby gave a ball and dinner to tho gentry of Auckland. His guests included the Governor and Lady Bowen; the Earl of Pembroke, and Dr Kingsley ; Colonel Elliott, of the ISth Regiment; his Honor the Superintendent, and Mrs Gillies ; the Colonial Treasurer, Hon. J. Vogel, and Mrs Vogel; the Native and Defence Minister, Hon. D. M'Lean ; the Hon. W. Swainson, a member of the Executive Council; the General Government Agent, the Hon. Dr Pollen, and Mrs Pollen ; Sir William and Liady Martin ; Colonel and Mrs Lyon ; the captains of the Squadron, and some other officers. The dinner party numbered thirty. The deck of the Liverpool, aft the main-mast, was cleared of guns and whatever else was moveable; was covered in with a huge awning of sails ; and was beautifully decorated with flags. It made a spacious and beautifully breezy ballroom ; and the deck wanted nothing but spring to render it perfection as a dancing floor. A capstan-head was made the resting-place of a group of bayonets ; a glazed frame containing the arms of the city of Liverpool, beautifully emblazoned, occupied a prominent place against the flag-draped bridge, tho work having been specially executed for a mayor of Liverpool, and presented by him to the ship, on the occasion of her visit to that port; the main hatch was transformed into a cross between a divan and a number of settees ; cushions, covered with flags, made cosy scats of the different port-holes ; and, at every point, something had been done to add to the comfort of the guests or tho effect of the decorations. The nicely effective band of the ship occupied an orchestra, which was perched against the draped mainmast; and there was a long programme of dances. The ball was opened by Rear-Admiral Hornby dancing with Lady Bowen, their vis-a-vis being his Excellency and Mrs the ball was a delightfully enjoyable one. A glass manufactory is about to be started in Auckland.

The encroachments by the sea at Westport are now as regular as the rise and fall of tides. With every tide portions of the beach are washed away, the extent of the destruction, of course, depending upon the direction or strength of the surf and wind. Where seven houses lately stood at right angles to the beach the sea now prevails, and as it is almost a dead-level from that point to the centre of the town, the approach of the S(£i to the centre seems only a question of time. Numerous sections for wfliieh bard cash was paid by the speculative and received by the Government couid now only be traced by a system of buoys and beacons, and the same alternative evidently awaits others. A largo number of men deserted from the Flying Squadron while in Auckland. In one night the Phoebe lost eleven men. Messrs Howdeu and Co.’s whisky has found its way to Auckland, and speaking of it the Cross says : —“ In point of flavor, strength, and purity, the New Zealand Distillery whisky is an excellent one, and when matured by keeping in the wood for a year, we have no hesitation in saying that it will compare favorably with many of the best imported Scotch and Irish malt whiskys. The New Zealand whisky is a little fiery, simply because it is new, but after being kept a short time it will acquire all the desiderated qualities of the more matured imported article. It has been found that this whisky can bo sold in Dunedin at 7s 6d per gallon in bond, which with Cs of duty added, will make the wholesale price there 13s 6d per gallon. Freight and other charges to Auckland -will bring this up to 15s per gallon.”